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Christopher Columbus

1949, Movie, NR, 104 mins

Christopher Columbus: Review

Essentially lifeless story of "the Great Navigator" starring Mr. and Mrs. Fredric March. Lots of costumes, backstage intrigues at the Spanish court, many extras, and what would appear to be all the elements of a successful movie. But making a film is like baking a cake--if you have all the right ingredients and the wrong recipe, it'll come out flat. Such was the case with this film. Fully half of it took place in Isabella's court and by the time we get to the good stuff, our yawns have superseded our interest. Columbus (March) and son (Cole) want to meet Isabella (Eldridge). They ask a priest (Aylmer) to arrange it. Sullivan has Eldridge's ear at court and wants to keep March away, so he conspires to keep March at arm's length, claiming that the idea of finding a passage to the New World is foolhardy. Eldridge must be a Libra because she can't make up her mind, so March and son (who is never identified by name) leave and then are called back by the queen's messenger. The voyage of the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria looks like a bunch of miniatures and the travails of the sailors are ho-hum. They discover America, have a triumphant return to Spain, then are back at sea again. There is fall from favor, and eventually March languishes in obscurity, which is exactly what happened to this very expensive movie. The dialog is stiff, the actors stiffer, and the whole thing lumbers along like a fat dog after a huge meal. leave a comment